HOTAMET," a helmet made from environmentally friendly scallop shells, is attracting attention. This helmet was born in Sarufutsu Village, the northernmost village in Japan, famous for its scallop fishing. The development of a helmet to protect the safety of the village's scallop fishermen began with the idea of making a helmet from scallop shells, a product that is attracting attention from the perspective of the SDGs.

In this issue, we will introduce the story of how HOTAMET was born.

Scallops are said to be the most exported marine products in Japan. Sarufutsu Village in Hokkaido is one of Japan's leading scallop producers, repeatedly ranking first in Japan in terms of scallop catch. While the village produces delicious scallops, a large amount of shells must be disposed of, amounting to about 40,000 tons per year for the entire Soya region, including the area surrounding the village. This has long been a problem for the region.

Based on the challenge, Koko Chemical Industry Co. and TBWA HAKUHODO, who were in charge of development, focused on the fact that the main ingredient of scallop shells is calcium carbonate. They came up with the idea that it could be reused as a material for a new material, and the result was a new material called "Calastic ®︎," which is an eco-plastic. And "HOTAMET" was developed using that "Karastic ®︎".

Compared to 100% new plastic, it also contributed to a reduction of up to 36% in carbon dioxide emissions.

HOTAMET has a cute colon shape, and its design incorporates a special ribbed structure that mimics the structure of a scallop shell. The design not only looks beautiful, but also succeeds in creating strength with a small amount of material. Despite weighing approximately 400 grams, it is surprisingly 30% stronger than a normal shaped helmet. In addition, the buckle also has a scallop pattern, making HOTAMET light, strong, and stylish, and usable in a variety of situations.

There are five color variations: white (Coral White), beige (Sand Cream), black (Deep Black), blue (Ocean Blue), and pink (Sunset Pink). All are named after the sea. All colors are simply made with beautiful curves and soft colors. Originally developed for scallop fishermen, HOTAMET's stylishness and convenience have led to its wide use at construction sites, on bicycles, and even for disaster prevention.

HOTAMET has been selected for the "Co-Design Challenge" program promoted by the Japan Association for the 2025 International Exposition, a public interest incorporated association. Furthermore, in November 2023, HOTAMET won the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award/Grand Prix in the design category of the ACC TOKYO CREATIVITY AWARDS.

This product was born from an issue in Sarufutsu Village, Hokkaido. It is likely to attract a lot of attention in the future.

Check it out!